Archive » June 11, 2009

JONATA RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE

Jonata
Middle School in Buellton has been named a 2009 California Distinguished
School, an award given to the state’s most exemplary public schools.

“It was wonderful to celebrate the hard work and
dedication of our teachers, staff, parents and students at the award ceremony,”
said Kathy Fayram, acting principal at Jonata. “Our (school board) president, Joyce Azevedo, and I received the award from State Superintendent
of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. I am very proud of the efforts of all of
the people involved in working with the students of Buellton.”

The school received the award at a ceremony May 29 at the
Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

The school is one of 136 middle schools and 125 high
schools so honored this year. In Santa Barbara County, there are seven other
schools that have previously been honored with the designation. Los Olivos and Santa Ynez elementary received the designation
in previous years.

“California Distinguished Schools must meet the challenge
of providing all their students with a rigorous education and to fully prepare
today’s students for success in postsecondary education or the workforce,” said
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell. “In an increasingly
competitive global economy, it is important that the academic success of all of
today’s students is directly linked to the effectiveness, competitiveness, and
resiliency of our not-too-distant future workforce.”

Over the years, the selected middle and high schools
represent about 11 percent of California’s nearly 2,400 middle and high
schools. Of those, only 341 schools have met the eligibility criteria based on
their student achievement and were chosen from 170 school districts in 46
counties.